Morning misery for commuters as 48-hour tube strike begins

CHAOS: Waterloo station was packed with people trying to get to work this morning [BEN STEVENS/I-IMAGES]

Waterloo station was rammed with people desperately trying to get on a train, while the roads of London were rammed as workers took to driving to work.

Many underground stations are closed with reduced services running on most lines.

Desperate travellers tried to board overground trains instead but were hit by packed platforms and many had to wait for another train before being able to board.

And buses were also packed, taking longer to reach their destinations with the roads already jammed.

RAMMED: Passengers struggled to get on trains this morning [SEE LI/DEMOTIX]

CROWDED: Commuters piled out of some stations [BEN STEVENS/I-IMAGES]

QUEUES: London roads were full of drivers attempting to avoid travelling by train [BEN CAWTHRA/LNP]

“Business groups have warned that the strikes will cost London's economy tens of millions of pounds”

The misery was piled even more as Londoners woke up to ice cold winds and heavy rain, while commuters trying to get home to east London on the District Line last night were hit with lengthy delays after a SWAN decided to set up camp on the tracks.

Members of the RMT and TSSA unions walked out at 9pm last night for 48 hours in protest at the closure of all ticket offices, with the loss of 950 jobs.

Picket lines were mounted across the capital today outside Tube stations, while the two sides in the dispute continued to argue over the ticket office closures.

CLOSED: Many underground stations were not even open [ROBIN MOREL/DEMOTIX]

2 DAYS: The strike is set to last until Friday morning [FAMEFLYNET]

Politicians have condemned the industrial action, with Conservatives again calling for changes to employment laws covering the numbers voting for strikes in a ballot.

London mayor Boris Johnson called the strike "pointless" and urged the unions to call it off and return to talks.

Militant RMT leader Bob Crow accused the mayor of refusing to meet them to discuss the ticket office closures.

Services won't return to normal until Friday, while another 48-hour strike is planned for next week.

Business groups have warned that the strikes will cost London's economy tens of millions of pounds.

A helpful map has been designed to show a rough guide to what stations and lines are running.